atm on board

[cruisingsfun]

I'd like to know if the Marina has an atm onboard.  We have several tours that we will pay in cash and want to plan how much cash to take.  Our cruise is long - from Miami to Rio.

Thanks for any words of wisdom.  Gail

[Flatbush Flyer]

1 minute ago, cruisingsfun said:

I'd like to know if the Marina has an atm onboard.  We have several tours that we will pay in cash and want to plan how much cash to take.  Our cruise is long - from Miami to Rio.

Thanks for any words of wisdom.  Gail

No ATMs and there's a safe in your cabin where you can store any cash you bring aboard.

[ORV]

Are you sure there's not an ATM in the Casino? 

[Classiccruiser777]

There is on Sirena. I suggest checking with someone at Oceania or try to get someone’s attention presently on Marina. I do know they are pricey to use.

 

[pinotlover]

We always pay in local currency and hit a “ major” bank atm in the country we’re touring. 
 

otherwise, as suggested, use the safe in your cabin!

[Flatbush Flyer]

2 hours ago, ORV said:

Are you sure there's not an ATM in the Casino? 

Forgot about the casino. But, still, I think that machine was a change machine(?).

[ORV]

51 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Forgot about the casino. But, still, I think that machine was a change machine(?).

I think it might be a combo machine. I'm pretty sure it has an ATM in it. Of course charges do apply.

[Mura]

4 hours ago, cruisingsfun said:

I'd like to know if the Marina has an atm onboard.  We have several tours that we will pay in cash and want to plan how much cash to take.  Our cruise is long - from Miami to Rio.

Thanks for any words of wisdom.  Gail

Question:  is the cash they want in dollars or local currency?  We've been in some places (typically Russia and environs) where dollars were wanted.  But most of the time they want local currency, in which case we always go to local ATMs. 

 

On our Black Sea cruise back in 2012 we did have to bring a significant amount of U.S. dollars with us, but not that much -- we were usually in a group of 16 (the same 16) so the per capita cost of these tours was not that burdensome.  We probably took along $200-300 in greenbacks on that cruise.  Not EVERY guide wanted cash, some took credit cards, etc.

 

Oh ... another thing.  If they want U.S. dollars, often they want pristine dollars.  No small tears, for example.  I couldn't get pristine dollars even at my local bank!

 

Mura

[Kate-AHF]

There is an ATM in the casino on Marina as of two weeks ago.  US dollars.  Didn't always function if the ship was far off shore.

[Flatbush Flyer]

14 minutes ago, Mura said:

Oh ... another thing.  If they want U.S. dollars, often they want pristine dollars.  No small tears, for example.  I couldn't get pristine dollars even at my local bank!

 

Mura

Have you ever put that to the test? Anywhere?

 

If what you've got (either local or USD) is "old"

and it's ALL you've got, what exactly do you think will happen when they ask for "pristine" money and you hand them that legal tender?

[Mura]

No, we didn't personally test the "demand".  But I did google the subject and found plenty of articles where that can be the situation.  At least it was THEN -- maybe this has changed?

 

Given that the guides need to take those dollars to a bank to convert them to local -- I assume that is what they do -- perhaps on their end it is the BANKS who are the problem.  I can understand not wanting counterfeit, obviously.  And while U.S. banks accept damaged currency, do we know that foreign banks will do so as well?

 

I will say that some of our bills that we used weren't what I personally would call pristine.  They didn't have tears or other obvious damage, but they also obviously were not NEW.

 

As it happens, I have accidentally on occasion put dollar bills through the washing machine and they DID come out looking pristine ... and you could also iron them as well ... Not too high an iron temp, though ... I wouldn't suggest that!

 

Mura

 

[clo]

35 minutes ago, Mura said:

If they want U.S. dollars, often they want pristine dollars.  No small tears, for example.  I couldn't get pristine dollars even at my local bank!

I read something similar about Argentina and we were able to get 'crisp' ones by going inside the bank - something we seldom do 🙂

[cruisingsfun]

Thanks so much for all the information.

[Paulchili]

44 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

If what you've got (either local or USD) is "old"

and it's ALL you've got, what exactly do you think will happen when they ask for "pristine" money and you hand them that legal tender?

I know what you mean but it depends on location.

Also, if the money is not “clean” it can always be exchanged for nicer bills at reception or casino.

That said, I would just bring the money from home.

[Twiga]

I was on the Riviera last month.  Pristine dollars were required in Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize.  In each port we were handed back bills that had tears, bits missing from the edges or just plain old and crumpled and asked for better quality bills.  We had to find nearly perfect bills in our wallets.  This was when we were dealing with small shops and people with tables at the ports near the ship.  I can imagine that tour guides may want clean bills too.

[alcpa1]

We  have also had US dollars refused in Central and South America. We thought they were pristine but the vendor's did not.

And, they do not want $20's either.

[Tansy Mews]

An interesting alternative to an ATM if you don't want to carry too much cash from the US. The ship will cash US travellers checks. A maximum of (I think) $500 a day. If you can get no-fee travellers checks in the US, it is easy because O doesn't charge anything. 

 

See https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005406034-Can-I-cash-a-traveler-s-check-or-personal-check-on-the-ship-

They don't accept personal checks.

 

The FAQ also says there is only an ATM on Riviera.

https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005407174-Are-there-ATM-machines-on-board-

 

Frances

 

 

 

[Tansy Mews]

1 hour ago, Tansy Mews said:

An interesting alternative to an ATM if you don't want to carry too much cash from the US. The ship will cash US travellers checks. A maximum of (I think) $500 a day. If you can get no-fee travellers checks in the US, it is easy because O doesn't charge anything. 

 

See https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005406034-Can-I-cash-a-traveler-s-check-or-personal-check-on-the-ship-

They don't accept personal checks.

 

If this is factoring into your planning, I would confirm that the service still exists. Even though the website says it exists.

 

Frances